Method for producing 1,6-dimethyl adipate

The invention discloses a method for producing 1,6-dimethyl adipate. The method comprises the following steps of: (1) mixing adipic acid and methanol without adding a catalyst, and performing pre-esterification reaction at the temperature of 80 and 200 DEG C under the gage pressure of between 0.05 and 3 MPa; and (2) conveying materials which are subjected to the pre-esterification reaction to the upper part of a continuous catalytic rectifying tower, and gasifying the dried methanol, conveying to the lower part of the catalytic rectifying tower, allowing the materials which are subjected to the pre-esterification reaction to contact methanol steam in a reverse flow mode in the catalytic rectifying tower and performing esterification reaction further. By the method, the problems of equipment corrosion and pollution which are caused by the utilization of a sulfuric acid catalyst in the conventional process are solved, and the defects of complex processes, large consumption level of the catalyst and the like which are caused by the adoption of two-step or multi-step catalytic esterification are overcome.